Schedule 189'S and Field Task Proposals (Marshall Islands Radiological Safety Program Review, May 21 and 22, 1981)

Page 1

ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION FOR OPE.UTING COSTS 1. Contractor: Contract No,: Task NO.: Associated Universities, Inc. Safety Studies and Development of Operational Guidelines Marshall Islands Radiological Safety Program Rz-1 5. Xethod of Re~ortine: e. Xorking Location: Annual report to Division of Operational Brookhaven National Laborator 7. Person in Char2e: 8. Project Term: Principal Investigator: From: To: N. Greenhouse Project will be initiated in

Page 2

Saiety Studies and Development of Operational Guidelines Project Title: Marshall Islands Radiological Safety Program ~~.(): Now that Micronesians are returning to the islands affected by weapons testing, a comprehensive, continuing radiation safety program is required. Such a program would be developed for tlteDivision of Operational Safety using the facilities and personnel of the Brookhaven National Laboratory Health Physics and Safety Division. This project is intended to provide ! Operational Safety with a single focal point for their needs in this area. Areas needing scientific investigation will be suggested to the Division of 9iomedical and Environmental Research, and other support activities to the Division of Operational Safety. The s,pecificgoal of this project is to gather and evaluate previous and current data on the radiological situation as they relate to actual and projected land use. Significant exposure pathways will be identified as a basis for establishing a continuing environmental monitoring program. ‘;siz3this information, annual surveys in the islands will be designed and ?erfomed in conjunction with the Brookhaven Medical Survey. Environmental samples will be returned to Brookhaven National Laboratory for analysis. Iii aadici~n to those samples required to estimate the accuracy of the dose predictions, s?ecific samples relating to the Xedical Survey Group’s interest will be callecced and analyzed. Our close relationship with the Medical Survey Group will permit us to respond rapidly to their needs. 15. Relationship to Other Protects: a) The facilities and personnel of the Brookhaven National Labracm~ Health Physics and Safety Division Environmental Monitoring Group will be the basic element in the projecc. ‘c) .Xutualassistance will exist with the Brookhaven Medical Survey Team, The annual radiological survey would be conducted during their visits to the islands when possible. c) Extensive use will be made of the data and experience of previous studies in the islands. This will include consultacicn as needed with the personnel from the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Southwest Radiological Health Laboratory, AEC Health and Safety Laboratory, etc. Close cooperation with the University of Washington is anticipated for the radiological analysis of marine biota in the Marshallese diet. 16. Technical Progress in FY 1974: Health Physics and Safety Division staff members will assist in the Xarc~ 1974 medical survey in the islands in order to familiarize these

Page 3

Safety Studies and Del/elopmenc ci Operational GuideLines Project Title: Marshall Islands Radiological Safety Program 3Z-03 personnel with the area and enable them to anticipate technical and 17. Expected Results in .SY1975: The project will be initiated in C7 19’75when the first detailed surveys in the islands will be designed and performed. 18. Expected Results in FY 1975: A radiation protection program for che islands will be fully iinplernencea with the expectation that this project is to be continued for an indefinite 19. Description and Explanation of !ia?orXateriaLs, Zauioment and In FY i975, capital equipment funds of $20,000 is requested for a S00 channel analyzer and its associated hardware. The equipment is reuuired co bring our environmental monitoring facilities to the “state of the arc.” 20. ?roeosed Oblizacions $or Related Construction Projects:

Page 5

Safety Studies and Development of Operational Guidelines A comprehensive and ccnc2nuing radiological safety progrsm is required for the 3ikini and Enewecak people who cesire to reinnabit their home atolls. The program includes analyses of exzernal radiation levels, soil and ground uater contamination levels, and raaioactivicy in terrestrial and tuarhe bioca w’hichcomprise the human food chain. Fron these data, both external and internal doses and dose commi”timentswill be made. In addition, projections of future radiological conditions will be postulated in order to provide appropriate guidance on projected Land use and living patterns. Earlier dose assessments will be revised and updated, and aosimec~ nodeLs will be refined to reilect actual trends as dete~-ined from che =onitoring program. P:oject personnel will provide a resource of expertise for establishment or independent review of radiation protection programs associated with cleanup i~al:h physics incerescs 0~ zhe Division of Operational Safety. , Field operations will be closely couQled with those of Brookhaven Medical Survey in the )iazsnall Islands, and Xadioiogical Safety Program personnel will be of direct assistance to the Medical Survey whole body counciag accivicies. .incilla.ryenvironmental radiological assessments will be made at Rongelap and Ctirik atolls on an alte~.ace year basis. ?ean. Assistance will be given ta thei: effort. The annual suney would be canductea during zheir visits co the ;s~ands. b) Continued col~aboration with cke lhiversicy of Washington, Laboratory for Radiation Ecology (LiU) is anticipated on !)ivisionof Operational safety environmental programs in the ?acific basin. c) Extensive use will tieaaaa of ?riar survey data. Consultations will be held with ocher participating agencies in developing the bases for the A major suz-?ey was conducted at Bikini and .EneuIslands in Feb~ary 1975 ia response co Department of the Interior’s request for guidance on Che siting of the second increment of housing construction at Bikini. This survev revealed unacce?cabl.eradiation levels at most of che proposed sites, suggested a;ternaze sizes, and laid the groundwork for a larger multiagency survey in a,

Page 6

Saiecy Studies and Jeveloprnentof Operational Guidelines B>Z ccl,laboracetiwizh Ene Unive=sicy of Kashingtan UK ia a regional radiological back~zocnd study ia Micronesia, November-December 1975. Data ?rom this stcay will be used as a reference base agaiasc which radiological data from :he northe~ Marshall Islands can be cmpared. The fi~st routine followup study for Eikini and Eneu is scheduled for April 1976. This su~ey will iaclude detailed radiological prciiles of the Nam-Boicatacomplex of islands which are the nexz areas scheduled for agricultural development:in cne Biki~i atoll master plan. Ground survey supper: will ‘oe prcv~ded for a planned Mterzsency aerial system is needed to iaprove saztpleanalyses and data processing caoabilicies on Large nuzbers of environmental sa~ples collected during field surveys. a?ray is medea :0 ?rocess soil samples Zor heavy elements.

Page 8

Laboratory RK-Enviromental Research and Develomne: 1. COntractcr: Coccracc No.: Task NO.: Associated Universities, Inc. EY-76-C-02-0016 2. Project Title: lag ~o.: Surveillance of Facilities and Sites 3. Budqec Activitv NO.: 4. Dare ?re~arec: Annual Report co Division of Operational Brookhaven ~aciona~ Laborac2r.; in Charqe: 8. ?rojecc Term: Prof. (3.S. or Equiv.) 1.0 2.0 2.0 sci. & prof. - Total 1.0 L.o tilocated Technical Services Gea. & Adm. Overhead Total Research Cost

Page 9

Surveillance of Facilities and Sites inc=insic germanium detector array for direct counting of soil samples. Prefor the Marshallese people living at Bikini, Rongelap and Uti=ik .\tclLsnust continue inaefiai:ely in crde: to assess dose concribucions co these people from the residual radioactivity ori~inally produced by L.S. nuclear weapons zests in the ?acific. Oetailed assessments of the contributions of external gamma radiation have been made over the past two years, but che identification of internal exposure pathways and determination of their radiological significance are subject to many variables which will requi=e envirsnmencal and diet monitoring and bioassay programs for many years. The focal points oi the next year’s efforts will be quantification of the average annual diet and i:s radianuciide content of each acol~; determination of the significance of che inhalation pathway for plutonium and ocher radionucl%des =esuspendea i:cm local soils and establishment of urine excretion rates for plutonium, strontium 90 and cesiusn137 for individuals if possible, and :he averages for atoll copulations. From these data, assessments of both external and interaal doses and do~ commitments will be made. In addition$ projections of f“~~’ureradiological co ditions will be postulated in order to provide appropriate guidance on projected land use and living patterns. Earlier dose assessments will be revised and updated, and dosimetry models will be refined to reflect actual czends as determined from the monitoring program. *eject personnel will provide a resource of expertise for establishment of independent review of radiation protection programs associated with cleanuF and rehabilitation efforts in the northen Ydrshall Islands, and for related health p“nysicsinterests of the Division of Safety, Standards and Compliance. a. Field suneys will be made in cLose conjunction with those of the B~ Yedical Survey Team, and assistance will be given to their eiforts. b. Continued collaboration with the University of Washington, Laboratory for Radiation Ecology is anticipated in SSC-sponsored environmental progsams in the ?aeific Basin. During a field trip in September-October 1976, visits to Wotje, Ailuk, Utirik, Rongelap,and Bikini ?rovided opportunities to collect urine sampies

Page 10

Suneillance of Facilities and Si:es ~eoresentative of contaminated and uncontaminated lacacions in the region as par: of a plusonium excrecion study. Definitive measurements of external exposure races were nade at Utisik and Rongelap, and zhe incremental exposure races from 3~avo fallout were determined for the village islands and several others at lthese atolls. Analyses of envi=crunentalsamples collected from past surveys are nearly completed, and reports oS the results are in progress. Installations of air sampling stations will be completed at Kwajalein, cll&&31., ?.cr.g,elap,and Utirik; and initial results of air monitoring and intenGnu? survey support will be provided for a planned interagency sponsored aez<al raiioiz~~cal sur~ey oi all previously unsuneyed atolls in the northern :im Oivision analytical laboratory is needed to process the increasing load O: environmental samples collecced on field sumeys. A supplemental budget request was made for FY 1977 to initiate the air monitoring and expanded urine bioassay program for plutonium. It will be necessay to extend the contracted peak load analyses of these samples into F L?7E because of che Lengzny sec up and processing times for amounts of radioactiviq which are below conventional limits of detection. Anticipated cost is S1O,OOO. Pexfpheral electronics euuipment ($5,000) is needed to provide depth in the Safety and Environmental ?rotection Division analytical laboratory to handle peak loaas of environmental samples which rausc othe~ise be subcontracted

Page 12

3. 3udgec Activity Ye.: 4. 3ace Preparaa: Total Research Cbiigacims L9E “ 213 369 427

Page 13

and dose predictions far !longelap,Utizik, Rongerik, Ailuk, and h’ocjeAtolls. 2:L doss assessrencs anc cezeeixacion of radiological zzends. :-. Suggestions based on iield experience to miti3ate doses via che sore cricica~ pakways. 7-. ~rine bioassay co defiae radionuclide excrecion ?aczens

Page 14

esphasis will be ?Laced on concimous air $amplins for ‘.i~daeaiated resuspension ai rac!ionucl.idesin local soils; and 4. Continued collaboration with L“ti/UWon OES radiological This prog=am will be logistically ccupled wherever possib2e CO the 3NZ .Veaical Program in the Xarshal~ Islands. Teclmical callaboracion will continue an rnac:ersoi autual inceresc. The radiological safety program will also bear direccly on a re~=aspec:ive reassesscknc oi thyroid and whole body doses co the 3%iV0 fallout victims ac Rongelap and Utirik, a new ?r~gram Eor %hich funding is expeczed in .~ 1978. The program will also interact cooperatively with related efiorcs ac the Lniversizy of Kasningcon (L.=) and at Lawrence

Page 15

Average kiaselhe =adianuclide body burdezs vill be escablishea 5ar Cancinuacion of programs described in t? 1979.

Page 17

1. Contractor: Contract No. : Task XO. : Sumeillance of Facilities and Sites Following Exoosure ts Fallout i. 3. Yaidu (664-4210) Project to be iniciaced and Total Zesearch Obligations

Page 18

nanc, in the exposed ?ooulacions ai Ucirik and Xongelap have Lndicatsd c:itica~ I differences in co~esoondesce between nodule incidence-and thyroid dose %r i cne two populations. The escinatsd external dose received 5Eom che :i=.eSal~- out began to the time ,oi evacuation shows chac citeRongelap population rsceived an external dose ( L75 rads) which was about thirteen times :nac for the Llcirikpopulation (14 rads), and the thyroid dose was about ten tires.- Larger, whereas the incidence of thyroid nodules in tbe two ?opuLacians uerz that could shed Light is the period during fallout and evacuation far both :Se a longer exposure pe=iod, both iacenal and external. iurt~er studies would, therefore, have to concsnc=ate an the re-examinacian of all. availaole data i=,.- reports issued by var:ous asencies during ttiat?eriod, consulzacicns ‘w:ch5ciand using apprapriace cemputer programs to analyze the data. The end =ssult will enable us to look for co~elacions between the incidence of :iyroid nodules and the reassessed dose estimates. radiation neasureme~cs, over :hese islands, which is scheduled soon. Togecie: they shouLd present a reliable ?icture of doses received by the qopulacians and also enabls dose ssti~tss CO be ~rojecced ioco zhe future. Preliminary Literature search and consultations with Dr. C. .1. Sonahaus, areas of uncertain:? in information and establishing the procedural steps :nac should be car=ied auc cowards siucidatins t>is problem. ?rag=ess ii oeizs nade

Page 19

far -={1978 has caused zhe ?rojeccco be set aside until such cirtechat che funding is aopropriacea. The literature search, consultations and che analysis of data will be complecea, and will. lead co comprehensive discussions and ?inal dose assessments for both ihe islands. These results will be used to test :he ‘ny?ochesis that radiation ei?eccs can be translacsd into meaningful dose escimaces. The?ro3aosis of the FY 1978 seedy should also permit validation of the models used in arriving at the dose esthates ia terms of ?resenc day exposures.

Page 20

3. Suckec Aczivicv Ye.: 4. 2ats ?regard: 7. Person in Charge: 8. ?rof%c: T2Hl: Total Zesearch Obligations 198 218 394 427

Page 22

ADDITIONAL EXPLMATION ITIROPERATNG OBLIGATIONS Associated Universities, Inc. H-76-C-02-0016 Islands Regional Radiological Sumey 3. Budqet Activit? Ye.: 4. Date ?re~ared: 5. Method of ~eporttig: 6. Working Locati~n: Written Report to D.O.E.S. Brookhaven National Laboratory 7. Person in Charge: 8. Project Term: Principal Investigator: From: ‘TO: Labor (including beneiits) - 0 Li d Yats., Trav., Dev. Total Research Cost + -+ w u Total Research Obligation 23 0 45 0 Equipment Obligations o 0 0 II

Page 23

Xarshall Islands environmental samples from 1974 through 1976. .9NLZeport dose predictions for Rongelap, Utirik, Rongerik, Ailuk, and Xot;e Atolls. WL Report 50797 in press. (a) ZOO ~Qrd s~rv: A comprehensive external radiation survey program “willbe conaucced on each of the approximately 13 atolls or islands in che Northern Marshall Islands which could have received tropospheric fallout from U.S. nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific. The suneys will ?roviae “ground truth” data on ambient external gamma radiation levels on-island. This data logical monitoring 5Y E.G.&G. Csrporacion. The ?rogram vill include aecailed external radiation measurements with pressur ization chamber and scintillation s.urvely instruments, and in situ gamma spectrometry on all islands of interest. Surface soil samples AIL be collecced and analyzed for significant ~amma the axtarnal radiation e:cposurepathway. BNL fidd trip staff and analytical lab facilities will 5e available for other environmental sample collections and analyses as needed 5Y che over=ll This ?rogram is directly related to our conti=ui~g snvironaencal and per- ?ro~ram. It will also interact cooperatively -w=threlated effarcs zc the Personnel and analytical laboratory resources will be &ooiLized in support of this pragram. If the regional survey begins on schedule, the first of the three survey legs should be cmnpletzd by the end of Tf 1978.

Page 24

17. Exoectad Results in N 1979: (Continued) report of 3X activities in sup?ort of this effort will be written for inclusion in the overall project report. Project will be completed in H 1979.

Page 25

1. . Contractor: Contract No.: Task No.: Special In-vivo Counting and Bioassay Pro~ram for the Bikini …